International Bagpipe Day 2014

Hello!
It's International Bagpipe Day 2014 and I wanted to let you know that I've not forgotten about this blog! I've been quite busy with different projects. The 24 Tunes in a Swedish Style for Bagpipes being the major bagpipe related one. So to celebrate today I went out into the garden on a lovely sunny day and practised. I suspect I disturbed absolutely no-one! Enjoy my half hour practise condensed down into a little over 2 minutes.....


I'll do another podcast soon - I promise! :) Vicki

Jacob's Jig

Download the podcast.
Download the dots to the tune.
Hello!
Time for a new tune! This is Jacob's Jig. It has a high G#, but again I've given an alternative. A simple but effective little jig.
Enjoy!
:)
Vicki

Julia's Waltz

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Download the dots to the tune.
Hello!
A late but timely new tune for you. It's called Julia's Waltz and uses a high B and G# key, but don't worry. Included in the dots are suggestions for how you can get round this is you don't have those extra keys.
Enjoy!
:)
Vicki

Pachelpiper

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Download the dots to the tune*.
Hello!
A tune written for International Bagpipe Day on International Bagpipe Day. I didn't get chance to finish recording it yesterday on the day itself, so here it is today.  It's a tune that uses D drones and A chanter and also needs a high B key.  But I wanted something special for a special day.  The podcast links are above, but you can also listen to the melody on the soundcloud widget below.

The dots of the tune have been corrected, there was an error in it, so if you downloaded your version before the 20th December 2013 - please download the latest version. This has also been updated to included the accompaniment.

The title of the tune needs no explanation - not once you've heard it anyway!
Enjoy!
:)
Vicki

Swedish Bagpipes - Solstrålepolskan

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Download the dots to the tune.
Hello!
In celebration of International Bagpipe day a Swedish bagpipe tune. It's an 8-note polska (or triplet polska). Enjoy! Scottish Smallpipes next time, with a tune written especially for International Bagpipe Day... :D

:)
Vicki
P.S. This tune is really called Solstrålepolskan, not really Solstinget as I call it in the podcast.  Solstråle is a sunbeam, solstinget is sunstroke. ;)

The Willlows

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Download the dots to the tune.
Hello!
Here is the first teaching blog for 2013.  Hurrah, it's snowing outside and all is cold and white.  Which is nice. :D  This is The Willows and was written by Jonny Dyer.  It's a gorgeous tune, but does really need a high B and G#, but I've suggested alternative notes in the podcast if you don't have those notes.  It shouldn't stop you from playing it.  The Willows is the name of our rural pub, which is hanging in there by the skin of its teeth.
Enjoy!
:)
Vicki

Sunrise over the Candlestick - bonus track

Hello!
Just a quick post today, I've uploaded to soundcloud a version of Sunrise over the Candlestick, a tune written for Scottish Smallpipes and string quartet.  Here it is with a full string orchestra.  Enjoy. If anyone would like me to podcast this tune just give me a shout!
:))
Vicki

Stjarnan - The Star, Swedish Bagpipes

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Download the dots to the tune.
Hello!
The third of my Swedish Bagpipe podcasts. A schottis this time, it's a bit scrappy, but the Scottish smallpipes is always tricky to play in an un-natural key. Another of these soon I hope! :D
God Jul!
:)
Vicki